WRESTLING

nishers at regionals advanced to the state meet.

“I did a lot of summer camps like I normally do,” he said. “I just worked a lot. Working helped build my muscles a lot.”

Birmingham breezed his way into the nals with a 9-1 decision over Valley’s Diego Manriqez. Birmingham reeled o ve points late in the rst period to take command. He started the second period with a reversal. Later, he picked up two near-fall back points.

“Staying con dent, knowing the stu I’ve been working on and training on all season,” Birmingham said. “I wrestled him better. My mentality was way better than his was. He wasn’t trying anything. I was shooting and trying to make something happen.”

Josiah Gonzales (126 pounds) and D’mitri Garza-Alarcon (138 pounds and two-time defending state champ) won regional titles as well. William Alvarado (157 pounds), Danny Rodriguez (144 pounds, Kayden Derbigny (215 pounds), Christopher Galicia (165 pounds) were runners-up. Camren Galicia nished third at 190 pounds.

Alex Mata took fth at 175 pounds. Uriel “Cookie” Leon placed sixth at 113 pounds. So did Royce Guerrero at 150 pounds.

Birmingham takes a 21-12 mark into the state tournament, which begins ursday, Feb. 16, at Ball Arena in Denver.

“I want to go out there, try my hardest and put my name on the wall if I can,” he said. “I have a lot of con dence going into next week. You always want to get that rst match out of the way at state. You can always learn something new .. add on.”